Handing over Detainees in Afghanistan
I've finally circumnavigated Blogger and am able to post again! If anyone else is having trouble with posting with the changes made, and has found simply signing up for Google accounts doesn't help, I have had to delete both my old blogger and new blogger accounts, and then sign up and request that my password info. is sent to me. Now it seems to work again... I hope!
Now, onto my story:
Yesterday, Defence O'Connor minister visited Kandahar, Afghanistan following an admission that he was insufficiently informed on some operations there. This admission was in response to accusations by the ICRC and opposition critics that O'Connor's claim that the Red Cross was responsible for monitoring the treatment of detainees in Afghanistan.
There are currently four investigations regarding how Canada deals with detainees in Afghanistan. All four deal with concerns over abuse and torture used in Afghanistan and claims that human rights are being ignored. Despite these concerns, Canada hands over detainees acquired in Afghanistan to the supervision of the Afghanistan Independent Huan Rights Commission. This contrasts with other countries who prefer to maintain a supervisory role.
Mr. O'Connor intends to take a 'hands on' approach to the situation by visiting with Afghan officials and reviewing processes. Liberal defence critic Denis Coderre said he doubted whether Mr. O'Connor's trip to Afghanistan would improve the conditions of the detainees.
For more information visit: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070312.wafghan12/BNStory/Afghanistan/home
The aspect of this story I find the most interesting is the way in which the story is framed. The focus, with the budget coming up, tends to be on what impact this has on fiscal management and use of taxpayer's money. For me, this isn't particularly relevant to the issue of Afghan Detainee treatment. However, the press has picked up on the climate of Parliament and the issues coming up.
Second, I wonder about the issue itself. It seems to me that while it may be desireable to allow Afghan authorities to deal with internal affairs themselves it could turn into a major problem. The other issue I see is that every country is taking their own approach. I think an international body should be made responsible for monitoring all detainees, so that no one state is relied upon for the protectio of human rights. This is particularly important given the uncertainty of the hatred that may be felt towards certain detainees. I find it irresponsible for our troops to hand over prisoners who have been captured by their efforts without assurances that our standards of human dignity are upheld. I think it will be very interesting to see what comes out of Mr. O'Connors visit and what role this plays in parliament, or if in fact it simply is a power issue and will disappear in favour of other issues.
Anyone with more information on this story and any thoughts, post!
Now, onto my story:
Yesterday, Defence O'Connor minister visited Kandahar, Afghanistan following an admission that he was insufficiently informed on some operations there. This admission was in response to accusations by the ICRC and opposition critics that O'Connor's claim that the Red Cross was responsible for monitoring the treatment of detainees in Afghanistan.
There are currently four investigations regarding how Canada deals with detainees in Afghanistan. All four deal with concerns over abuse and torture used in Afghanistan and claims that human rights are being ignored. Despite these concerns, Canada hands over detainees acquired in Afghanistan to the supervision of the Afghanistan Independent Huan Rights Commission. This contrasts with other countries who prefer to maintain a supervisory role.
Mr. O'Connor intends to take a 'hands on' approach to the situation by visiting with Afghan officials and reviewing processes. Liberal defence critic Denis Coderre said he doubted whether Mr. O'Connor's trip to Afghanistan would improve the conditions of the detainees.
For more information visit: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070312.wafghan12/BNStory/Afghanistan/home
The aspect of this story I find the most interesting is the way in which the story is framed. The focus, with the budget coming up, tends to be on what impact this has on fiscal management and use of taxpayer's money. For me, this isn't particularly relevant to the issue of Afghan Detainee treatment. However, the press has picked up on the climate of Parliament and the issues coming up.
Second, I wonder about the issue itself. It seems to me that while it may be desireable to allow Afghan authorities to deal with internal affairs themselves it could turn into a major problem. The other issue I see is that every country is taking their own approach. I think an international body should be made responsible for monitoring all detainees, so that no one state is relied upon for the protectio of human rights. This is particularly important given the uncertainty of the hatred that may be felt towards certain detainees. I find it irresponsible for our troops to hand over prisoners who have been captured by their efforts without assurances that our standards of human dignity are upheld. I think it will be very interesting to see what comes out of Mr. O'Connors visit and what role this plays in parliament, or if in fact it simply is a power issue and will disappear in favour of other issues.
Anyone with more information on this story and any thoughts, post!
posted by AcceptanceSpeech at 6:06 AM
3 Comments:
UPDATE:
Following up on the story, today the press reports on Minister O'Connor's meeting with Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission lead Abdul Qadar Noorzai.
O'Connor indicated (in the Globe and Mail):
Speaking in Kandahar Wednesday, Mr. O'Connor said he had looked the head of the commission in the eyes and felt satisfied that he is an honest man.
“He's really dedicated to human rights and he was saying he hopes that over time in Afghanistan they'll get to our high standards,” Mr. O'Connor said.
To me quoting O'Connor this way simply makes him look even more like he doesn't know what he's doing. The G&M continues:
Mr. Noorzai has said that monitoring detainees will prove difficult, because he has only eight staff members to conduct prison inspections across all of southern Afghanistan, and some regions are considered too dangerous to visit.
Which, to my mind, contradicts O'Connor. I think that the press needs to get answers on the tough questions from Mr. O'Connor, not how he feels when he looks into somebody's eyes or what he thinks they will achieve "over time". For Canadians this is an important issue as it is our primary military engagement and one which distinguishes both our troops and our country internationally. We need out ministers to act accordingly, and our press to report accordingly.
Interesting. I'll definitely be following the developments.
I would just like to comment to the post which is emmediately after this one, since posting comments apears to be disabled on it.....I never understand how people think that a large body is going to be a moral person....I understand the notion of corporate personhood but do you expect a large faceless organization to have a consciouse ? They are there to protect the rights of the people they represent...nothing more
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